Monthly Archives: December 2011

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First, Wednesday Luvy had to work, and I have a couple of appointments. One of which being going to physical therapy. Round two of deep tissue manipulation. Ouch.

We also took down all of our Christmas decorations. We didn’t want to clean up when we got back.

Thursday morning, we packed up and headed to Cincinnati. 🙂 We were super sneaky about being gone, because we didn’t want any distractions. Plus, I didn’t want to focus on feeling like I had to take pictures to blog about our trip. I just wanted to enjoy our time.

We have made Cincinnati a get away after Christmas every year. We always hit up our favorite sandwich shop, Melt.

I love their food. It is to die for! Seriously! I got the Vegan Melt with seitan instead of tofu. It was wonderful.

After lunch we wondered around IKEA. Then, we changed clothes and headed out to the mall and Crate and Barrel. That night, we tried out a new to us restaurant in Cinci, Green Papaya. It is a wonderful Thai place.

By far this is the best meal I have had in a LONG time. I have a feeling I won’t be able to go to Cincinnati unless we go to Green Papaya! Luvy got Classic Hot Fish with steamed salmon, and I got Vegetable Hot Thai Spicy Sauce. Mine was much spicer than Luvy’s, but we ended up sharing anyway. 🙂 I love to share at restaurants!

Yesterday, we went to the outlets and hit the jackpot! After that, Luvy took me to a grocery store I had heard a lot about called Jungle Jim’s.

They had stuff from all over the place. It would be great if you were looking for international food. It was a fun experience, but I wouldn’t say that they had any good deals or that I would want to go back.

We had a great last fling before the New Year!

Today, I went and got my hair done, so I’m all ready to bring in 2012!

Just like my cousin, Kristin, commented the other day, no one can make chocolate peanut butter pie like my Aunt Dixie. No one.

However, even my papaw said mine was pretty darn close! That my friends, was my seal of approval. My papaw is not one to sugar coat things.

Of course, I can’t share my Aunt Dixie’s recipe. For that I might be banished from the family, or worse… Plus, I can’t have the milk that it calls for. With that in mind, I decided to go all out and just make it completely vegan. Once I saw vegan chocolate pudding on Mama Pea’s blog, I knew that it was a sign I NEEDED to make chocolate peanut butter pie. For years, I thought that I would never again enjoy Aunt Dixie’s pie because of my milk allergy…. that was until now!

If you are super woman/ man, you can use a homemade pie crust. I have too much to do and I value my sanity during the holidays, so I used a Wholly Wholesome graham cracker crust that I got from Whole Foods.

Place your pie crust in the preheated oven for 10 minutes to brown.

Meanwhile, combine 1/2 cup of powdered sugar and 1/4 cup of creamy peanut butter in a bowl. Mix well until it is well combined and crumbly.

Allow crust to cool while you whip up the chocolate pudding found here.

Place crumbles in the bottom of the crust.

Pour pudding over top of the crumbles. Allow this to cool for 15 minutes or so.

You will have some pudding left over. Feel free to use it however you like. Personally, I ate it—all. 🙂

Place parchment paper or plastic wrap directly on the pudding so a skin doesn’t form over the pie.

Refrigerate for at least 3 hours before serving. I like to make this the day before to allow it to completely cool and for the flavors to develop.

This pie is to die for, and it isn’t highly fattening or TOO bad for you. It is a sweet after all…

I know many of you will be trying to diet for the New Year, but I have a better idea. Go make some pie!